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| TPWD News Releases Dated 2011-10-17 |
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[ Note: This item is more than three years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ]
[ Media Contact: Rob McCorkle, 830-866-3533, robert.mccorkle@tpwd.texas.gov ] [RM]
Oct. 17, 2011
Cedar Hill State Park to Celebrate 20th Birthday This Saturday
CEDAR HILL - What has become one of Texas' most popular state parks will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Saturday with a host of activities wrapped around Cedar Hill State Park's annual Harvest Heritage Festival. Reduced park entrance fees will apply, and all activities will be free.
Highlighting the day's public outreach events, which kick off at 11 a.m., will be a mini Outdoor Expo featuring the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and non-profit partner organization's programs, hands-on outdoor activities, displays and exhibits. Game wardens will be on hand with the Operation Game Thief trailer and will be offering patrol boat rides. Representatives from Texas State Parks, the Texas Outdoor Family camping program, Outreach and Education and the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center will be staffing information booths.
Live Adventure, Inc. is providing a climbing wall and will be supplying mountain bike and kayak rentals. In addition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cabela's Mark-9 Search and Rescue Dogs, REI, Audubon Society, Dallas Off-Road Bike Association and other organizations will be handing out information and conducting seminars. All expo events will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the park's south boat ramp. Vendors will be selling food and drinks.
At the same time the Expo is taking place, the state park's historic Penn Farm will be staging the Harvest Heritage Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Harvest Heritage Festival will feature a Buffalo Soldier camp, TPWD archeological exhibits and a discussion of cultural and historical preservation, an antique tractor display, guided farm tours and demonstrations by period spinners, weavers, quilters and woodcarvers.
At 2 p.m. at Penn Farm, two local vintage baseball league teams will square off in an old-fashioned baseball game.
For a complete list of events and participating partners, please visit the Cedar Hill State Park Facebook page.
Cedar Hill is located 10 miles southwest of Dallas, 4 miles southeast of Grand Prairie, and 3 miles west of Cedar Hill. For directions or other information, contact the park at (972) 291-3900.
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[ Note: This item is more than three years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ]
[ General Media Contact: Business Hours, 512-389-4406 ]
[ Additional Contacts: Bryan Frazier, Texas State Parks, (512) 826-8703, bryan.frazier@tpwd.texas.gov ]
Oct. 17, 2011
Ribbon Cut on Scenic, Historic Daingerfield State Park
Northeast Texas Park Celebrates Opening after Yearlong Closure, Renovations
DAINGERFIELD, TX--More than 500 visitors entered the gate to celebrate the grand reopening and ceremonial ribbon cutting of Daingerfield State Park, set in the backdrop of northeast Texas' Pineywoods autumn landscape.
After almost an entire calendar year of closure for repairs and renovations to facilities and campgrounds, the park is once again hosting campers, anglers, hikers and nature lovers on its 500 acres, miles of trails, lake shore, and Civilian Conservation Corp-built cabins and pavilion.
"It is a place for people from all over to enjoy," said Lou Irvin, mayor of Daingerfield. "My family has been involved in this area for a long time; I spent many a day out on this park's lake. And I hope my grandchildren can enjoy this park too. We are so excited it's open once again."
The day's celebration activities included a ribbon cutting ceremony, guided canoe tours of Lake Daingerfield, a geocache tour and nature hike, a children's bouncy place inflatable slide, Operation Game Thief Wall of Shame trailer, the Latino Legacy trailer from Stephen F. Austin State University, live music and a food vendor.
"Growing up around here, sometimes we don't always appreciate what we have," said Texas State Representative Bryan Hughes. "I'm so glad that this park is still here, now, stronger than ever. I know a lot of people have worked hard to get us here. Our part of East Texas is better off because this park is here and back online."
Texas Parks and Wildlife invested more than $5 million in capital improvements to add full hookup campgrounds with water, electricity and sewer connections; three new restroom complexes; renovations to the CCC-built Bass Lodge and dining hall; a new wastewater treatment plant; state park store and more. Money for the repairs and improvements was appropriated from budgets of previous bienniums.
"This park represents a lot to our community and region of Texas, and we are so glad to have it up and running again, serving the thousands of visitors who come here each year," said Daingerfield State Park superintendent John Thomas. "It really is a complete destination for outdoor recreation; it's got beautiful scenery, a lake with good fishing, camping, cabins and group facilities. And today's grand reopening event was a fitting tribute to a fantastic and historic park."
For more information, contact Daingerfield State Park at (903) 645-2921, or visit the Web site at http://www.texasstateparks.org/. To book state park reservations in advance of your trip, contact the customer service center at (512) 389-8900.
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